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Flu plan for Fall 2009

The university has asked instructors to think ahead in case the H1N1 virus causes widespread course interruptions. For updated information from the university, check out their Information and Prevention site frequently.

Clearly, enduring absences pose problems in a course like J202, which is so active and cumulative in nature. But we've helped students with illnesses in the past, so we've got a foundation to build from already.

A few things you can do to avoid getting sick or infecting others:

  • wash with soap or hand sanitizer for at least 20 seconds before eating, drinking, or preparing food; after using the bathroom; and if you cough or sneeze into a tissue
  • cough or sneeze into your sleeve instead of your hands (germs don't spread as easily)
  • keep your hands away from your eyes, nose and mouth as much as possible
  • get a seasonal flu shot from UHS when it's available (it's completely free for you)
  • get an H1N1 flu shot from UHS when it's available (also free)

If you do get ill:

  • do not come to lecture or lab if you have a fever of 100 degrees or higher with a cough or sore throat
  • e-mail me immediately and note that you are ill
  • stay away from lecture or lab until 24 hours after you are fever-free (without the help of ibuprofen or other medication)
  • you are not required to get a doctor's note confirming your illness (we're going on trust here)

How class works if you can't be here:

  • when you e-mail me that you are ill, we will move to an online learning environment administered by me, rather than your TA
  • all general course materials (lectures, assignment sheets, guides and tutorials) will be offered online via this course site
  • all submissions, graded materials and other exchanges requiring confidentiality will be done via Learn@UW (because the system is browser-based, it won't require you to connect to our server as you do in lab)
  • any work that requires you to have specific software will be delayed in deadline until you can return to a public lab that has that software (the only exception to this is SoundSlides, which all students are required to purchase, and Audacity, which is free)
  • any work requiring participation in a small group will be changed to individual assignments (for instance, rather than a small group of three creating an audio package together, three students will create packages of their own)

How class works if I can't be here:

  • my hand washing has already gone into hyperdrive, but I can get sick like anyone else
  • in the event that I have a fever above 100 with a cough or sore throat, I won't be coming to campus
  • in this event, I'll suspend my office hours but will be available via e-mail, which is how the vast majority of you contact me anyway
  • I'll move lectures online, via our iTunesU podcast
  • I'll take questions or group discussions via Skype or AIM (see my e-mails for those screen names)

How class works if your TA can't be here:

  • in the event that a TA becomes ill, I will take over his or her lab
  • in the event we're both out, the J-School will use its own response plan, possibly relying on other faculty or former 202 TAs to staff classes

How class works if whole bunches of people can't be here:

  • the university has asked us to plan for a widespread outbreak but cautioned that this is highly unlikely
  • in the highly unlikely event that instruction is suspended, we have a plan for submitting grades based on work to date
  • as you know, grading in J202 is progressive, rewarding you for improvements over time – my plan bears this in mind, so you will not be penalized should instruction be suspended before completion of the final project, which is usually your best work

Here's the good part:

  • J202 already has a significant backbone and history for delivering content and doing work online
  • a great deal of thought and planning has gone into contingencies for flu problems
  • research clearly demonstrates that simple practices like hand washing and changing the way you cough and sneeze can keep us all from getting ill (my grandmother would loathe the sneezing-into-your-sleeve business, but it works)

It's a lot of information, but you have many resources available to you: